Gunfire at a school in the Philippines: student kills classmate and then dies by suicide

A shooting at a high school in the southern Philippines ended with the deaths of two students.

Authorities said the suspect was a ninth-grade student. He entered the school armed with a pistol and a rifle and opened fire in a classroom, killing a student who was one year older.

After the shooting, the suspected student died by suicide.

The incident took place at a school affiliated with Ateneo de Zamboanga University, in the city of Zamboanga. University president Ernald Andal said the situation was now under control and that no other people had been injured.

“Our priority is the safety of all students,” he said.

Local media published footage showing students and parents outside the school premises. Police, military forces and forensic experts arrived at the scene.

This is the second tragedy of its kind in the Philippines in less than two months. In June, a shooting at a public school in Tacloban City left at least three students dead and around 20 others injured.

Such cases are rare in Philippine schools, as the country enforces strict rules on carrying weapons. However, illegal firearms continue to be present.